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Someone With Skin On

SOMEONE WITH SKIN ON

From the Heart of Dr. Rexella Van Impe

I suppose this story has been told in a variety of ways, but it illustrates
so well the heart-cry of all mankind.As I heard it, a little boy woke up in the midst of a violent storm,
frightened by the thunder and lightning, and cried out for his mother. She
reassured him, and told him never to be afraid of the dark or the storm because
God was right there with him.

In a few minutes the child cried out again, and the mother went back to his
side and reminded the youngster of her earlier assurance that God was with him
in the storm. "I know," said the lad, "but I want someone with skin on!"

Don't we all? Religions based on noble thoughts or impersonal cosmic forces,
or centered around idols made of stone or wood, do not satisfy the deep longing
inside the human breast for a God with whom we can have a personal, living
experience. We seek a God we can touch -- Someone with skin on -- to be our
Example, our Saviour, and our Intercessor.

Centuries after the time when God himself came down to the Garden of Eden in
the cool of the evening to walk, talk, and have fellowship with Adam and Eve,
sinful man had lost sight of who God was and what He was like. Mankind stumbled
about in the dark, disobedient and lost.

So God sent His Son to earth once again to reveal to man what God is like and
to restore the lines of communication and fellowship. And to help man relate to
God, the Father wrapped His Christmas present to the world -- the divine spirit
and person of His Son -- in human skin!

The Apostle Paul wrote, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of
darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Jesus, our Example

The old gospel song, "Where He Leads I'll Follow," has a tremendous message
in its lyrics. One line in particular describes Jesus by saying, "He the Great
Example is, and Pattern for me."

The truth is, Jesus gave us an example for living as well as His
life. When we see how Jesus lived, how He acted, how He responded to other
people and the circumstances of daily life, we catch a glimpse of how we should
live. Oh, if only we would ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" when faced with
life's tough decisions and choices.

We know that His life was an outpouring of love and joy. His very first
recorded miracle was performed at a wedding! He had dear, cherished friends in
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, in whose home He enjoyed rest and fellowship. When
Lazarus died and Jesus was called, we're told He wept for His friend. Onlookers
even noted, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:36). And Jesus raised
Lazarus from the dead.

The Gospels are filled with examples of the compassion of our Lord. And
Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward
them (Mark 6:34). We're told He taught them...and later fed them.

Acts 10:38 tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him.This is the example Jesus set for us -- He went about doing good. In love and
compassion, He met people's needs, touching, healing, and lifting them. And that
is what we are to do.

In today's dark world, you and I may well be the only light some people will
ever see. We are the only hands of God that will ever touch them. Ours are the
only feet that will bring the good news of the gospel to them.

I tell you, if Christ's hands are not extended through ours, He will never
reach out to some people. That individual in your world crying out for someone
with skin on to come to him...is waiting for you."Oh, Rexella," you say, "how could we ever expect to be like Jesus and
minister as He did?"

Because He said so. Jesus said, Verily, verily, [truly, truly] I
say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son (John 14:12,13).

Jesus, our Saviour

A short time after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph brought Him to
Jerusalem to the Temple to be presented to the Lord, according to the law of
Moses. Two remarkable and beautiful things happened there that day.

First, there was a priest named Simeon, an old man who had been promised that
he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ. When He saw Jesus, he took
Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy
servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation (Luke 2:29,30).

There was also an 84-year-old prophetess named Anna in the Temple. The Bible
says that she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and
spake of him [Jesus] to all them that looked for redemption in
Jerusalem (Luke 2:38).

Why is it so significant that Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the
Saviour? Perhaps God knew that we today needed to see this confirmation of the
faith of others in the holy Scriptures. The majority then and now could not see
who He was and is because of spiritual blindness. The Lord Jesus entered the
world He had created to rescue fallen man, yet those with whom He desired to be
intimately associated rejected Him.The Bible says, He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and
the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not
(John 1:10,11).

Jesus knew the price He would have to pay as the Saviour of the world. The
Christmas card picture of Him being revered as a beautiful baby in a manger was
for a brief moment. The adulation of those touched by the compassionate prophet,
teacher, and healer lasted only a few days.

Jesus grew up in a humble home, in a despised village. His brothers and
sisters misunderstood Him. The religious leaders of the day hated Him. And
finally, when He was falsely convicted and crucified, His own disciples forsook
Him.

But He died for everyone to redeem all mankind, willingly, by choice. He came
to be a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).

Someone has said that Jesus would have come to earth, suffered and died, to
save just one person. And I believe that is true. But it is also true that, had
the Lord been born ten thousand times in Bethlehem, it would have been
ineffective... unless He had a birth in our hearts. Only then is He our
Saviour.

Jesus, our Intercessor

I've often heard the old folk proverb which suggests that before one
criticizes a person, he should walk a mile in his shoes. The point is, of
course, that one cannot really understand someone else's behavior unless one has
gone through their tests and trials.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews reminds us that because Jesus, the Son of
God, came down and wrapped himself in human skin and walked in our shoes, He
knows what we're going through... He understands. For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Under the law of Moses, the role of the high priest was to intercede before
God for mankind. And Jesus, who provided the ultimate sin offering in His death
on the cross, now serves as our Intercessor in heaven before the Father.

Having walked the rocky road of human existence before us, He fully
understands what it means to be hungry, tired, and penniless ...to be
misunderstood, slandered, falsely accused... to endure heartache, physical pain
and suffering...even death!

Oh, He knows what you're going through, He understands what you need...and He
cares! He sees your struggles, He hears your cry. And He is reaching out to
you.

I heard about a little girl whose mother was in the hospital, and who was
spending the night alone with her father. Soon after her dad turned out the
lights, the little girl said, "Daddy, are you there?"

"Yes, child," he said, "I'm here."

It was quiet for a moment, and then a little voice asked, "Daddy, are you
looking at me?"What a joy to know that, in our darkest hours, we can go ahead and go to
sleep knowing that Jesus stays awake all night looking after us!

I love the beautiful words of the old song that says,

Can we find a friend so faithful,Who will all our
sorrows share;Jesus knows our every weakness;Take it to the Lord in
prayer.

Just now, reach out and touch the "skin" of Jesus the Lord, God's
"unspeakable gift" of love. Receive Him as your Example, accept Him as your
Saviour, trust Him as your Intercessor.

Add To Your Faith

The fruit of the Spirit is . . . FAITHFULLNESS.

It is Well With My Soul

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Jesus, The Great I Am

There is no power in hell or any who can stand before the power and presence of the Great I Am.

THE GOLDEN RULE

The only thing you should owe to anyone is LOVE for one another, for to LOVE the other person is to fulfill the law. Romans 13:8

A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Renewing Your Mind

Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Trust & Obey

...."Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones".... Proverbs 3:5-8 NASB

2 Corinthians 5:15

...."and He died for all, so that they who live might NO longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf"

Book of Common Prayer

"From envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness, Good Lord, deliver us."

Trust In The Lord

Rejoice and give thanks in ALL circurmstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Can Prayer Really Change Things?

Our beliefs about the efficacy of prayer are closely related to our faith. If you don't believe that God can change the world, you're unlikely to see it, even if it happens right in front of your eyes. God sometimes shakes up our lives to open our eyes, to increase our trust & faith in him--and help us see prayer's effectiveness...

Prayer Request

Heavenly Father teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart. Psalm 90:12 Would you help by praying for those who leave comments and prayer requests?

Always Follow the 10 Commandments

But we have this TREASURE in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Salvation Lessons From The Thief On The Cross

There were seven truths that the repentant thief understood. Studying these truths is important since they are the same realities that all must embrace in order to gain peace with their Creator...

True, Honest, Just, Pure...

Think on these things.

Perilous Times Shall Come

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. 2 Timothy 3:1-2